MR HAWKINS accuses Swindon Borough Council of reducing grants and voluntary groups (Evening Advertiser, December 04). Mr Hawkins is premature and incorrect.
The council has neither identified nor approved any actual reductions in funding to voluntary organisations. Officers have tabled draft proposals identifying general potential savings under broad budget headings. Any decisions will require further information detailing various options and their implications. All council expenditure is subject to review within the annual budget process. Mr Hawkins will note, however, that meeting the aspirations of all voluntary organisations in Swindon would cause council tax to soar.
The awarding of grants to voluntary bodies is a non-statutory function of the council. The Conservative administration must focus primarily on challenges facing its statutory functions such as education and social services. For instance, the government, through Ofsted, has instructed the council to maximise resources for education services.
The need to redirect resources from non-statutory to statutory functions arises for two main reasons. First, during five years in office the Labour government consistently has granted Swindon Borough Council insufficient funding to fulfil properly its statutory obligations. Second, poor financial management by successive local Labour administrations has exacerbated shortfalls in central government funding.
Labour's lack of financial prowess, locally and nationally, is to blame for any realignment of the council budget to prioritise statutory functions over non-statutory functions.
COUN GARRY PERKINS
Dorcan Ward
Swindon Borough Council
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